Likud Minister Nir Barkat apologizes for saying he had ‘more important things’ to do than watch freed hostage’s testimony

Likud Economy Minister Nir Barkat apologizes for saying he had ‘more important things’ to do than watch freed hostage Eli Sharabi’s testimony.

“I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart to Eli Sharabi, the families of the hostage, and everyone who was hurt by my statement,” Barkat says in a video published on X amid public uproar over his flippant remark on Channel 12 yesterday.

Barkat claims he didn’t know about Sharabi’s harrowing Thursday interview on Channel 12’s “Uvda,” which had immediately been picked up by every major news outlet in the country.

Barkat says he has now watched the interview, which moved him deeply.

“Sharabi is a role model and inspiration to the entire Jewish people,” says the Likud minister, who insists that he has been supporting hostage families since October 7.

He notes that he has also voted in favor of both hostage deals in the cabinet, adding that he also supports fulfilling all of Israel’s war aims.

However, the war aims include both freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas, which are largely seen to contradict one another.